Loading icon
Health Information Center

Reducing Your Risk of Obesity

Authors:
  • Cynthia M. Johnson, MA
Publication Type:

Condition InDepth

Reducing Your Risk of Obesity

Some steps to lower the risk of obesity are:

Eating a Balanced, Healthful Diet

Eating a balanced, healthful diet helps reduce the risk of obesity. The doctor or a dietitian can help people who:

  • Need help finding the right calories to reach and keep a healthy weight
  • Need guidance on healthful eating
  • Are on diets to treat other health problems

Other things that can help are:

  • Eating family meals.
  • Choosing drinks with few or no calories. For example, water would be a better choice than soda.
  • Learning how food is made. Foods cooked or seasoned with fat can have more calories.
  • Limiting eating out.
  • Choosing healthful foods when shopping.
  • Eating more whole foods rather than processed foods.
  • Cooking less food at mealtime and not bringing it all to the table.

References

  • Dietary guidelines for Americans 2015-2020. US Department of Agriculture and US Department of Health and Human Services. Available at: https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/tools-resources/evidence-based-resource/2015%E2%80%932020-dietary-guidelines-for-americans Accessed May 9, 2022.
  • Obesity. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/nutritional-disorders/obesity-and-the-metabolic-syndrome/obesity. Accessed May 9, 2022.
  • Obesity in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/obesity-in-adults. Accessed May 9, 2022.
  • Overweight and obesity prevention. Available at: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/overweight-and-obesity/prevention. Accessed May 9, 2022.

Contributors

  • Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
Last Updated:
2022-03-09

(C) Copyright 2023 EBSCO Information Services

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.